SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS. 97 



interfere with the system followed by astronomers. That astronomers 

 would quietly remain in their old customs without grieving them- 

 selves as to the arrangement of a matter indifferent to them. At a 

 period when everything tends to the simplification of reciprocal 

 relationships, it must appear to us desirable that the numeration of 

 date differing from the rest of the world, must also be abandoned by 

 astronomers, and indeed for the greater reason, that in modern times 

 the mission of many observatories is not simply to subserve scientific 

 purposes, but also to unite with them matters of practical utility. 

 The latter are thrown into active communication with the outer world, 

 which, with a double notation of the date, would be much prej udiced . 

 The sixth r.esolution of the Washington congress, with regard to Time 

 l!^^otation, unanimously voted, which expresses the hope that as soon 

 as it appear practicable to carry out the principle, astronomers and 

 navigators should introduce into their practice the principle of dating 

 the day from midnight, carries this view. The Russian delegates 

 joined in this strongly felt hope ; althoiigh, in the instructions given 

 to them, this question had not been mooted. 



The seventh resolution, submitted according to the wish of Herr 

 Janssen [recommendation, that the studies over the Decimal Divi- 

 sion of Angles and Time should be resumed] intrinsically stands in 

 no relationship with the propositions which were submitted to the 

 "Washington conference, and was from the first declared by the 

 President as not coming within its powers. But a majority of those 

 present, out of regard to the French delegates, and out of considera- 

 tion for the indirect form in which the resolution was set forth, 

 declared that it was permissible to vote upon it. Accordingly, 

 without further discussion, it was almost unanimously accepted. 



It is now asked by everybody, whether there is any prospect that 

 the Washington Resolutions will come into operation, and by what 

 means that result may be attained 1 In fact they are to be regarded 

 principally as an authoritive expression of men enjoying public con- 

 fidence in the different countries whose Governments in no way have 

 pledged themselves unconditionally to accept the Resolutions and to 

 give them the force of law. It, however, can be foreseen, that sustained 

 by these important expressions of opinion, the logic of facts, and the 

 necessity for the realization of these resolutions will possibly in no 

 distant time lead to that result. Therefore, naturally it comes to be 

 pre-eminently a duty for those who in the diflerent countries are in 

 the position to exercise influence in this direction, to make this influ- 

 ence felt in the sphere of their labours. 



It may be considered as certain that the use of the Greenwich 

 Meridian for Cartography and the numeration of Longitude will 

 shortly, and without dfficulties being created, be introduced into all 

 countries. In this matter, the organs of the Governments of the three 

 most widely extended countries, Russia, Great Britain, and the 



